A recent visit to a homeless encampment in Venice Beach, California caused a considerable blow to the already troubled gubernatorial campaign of Republican Caitlyn Jenner.
In addition to reportedly raking up considerable debt in campaign funding, and trailing her fellow candidates in the polls by a significant distance, the former Olympian and reality TV star's views on California's homeless situation have not helped her popularity rise.
In an interview with California's Kron 4, Jenner declared that the rising homeless population is "destroying Venice Beach", but offered a less than sure-fire solution to the problem.
"We have to clean that up. We have to provide some place for those people to go, whether it's an open field out in some place… or if you notice at the veteran's facility.. there's these big open fields and a lot of places there."
With that sentiment in mind, a Venice Beach homeless encampment seemed a rather risky first stop for Jenner's state wide bus tour.
Though in a video published on The Recount's Twitter page, Jenner was initially greeted by a supporter, who claimed "you don't even want to walk down the street" amidst all the campers.
Caitlyn Jenner is walking by homeless encampments in LA and criticizing them as part of a campaign event.pic.twitter.com/iCwUq00HbV— The Recount (@The Recount) 1628791271
But Jenner's presence at Venice Beach was not greeted with unanimous praise, as evidenced by a follow up video also posted by The Recount.
A protester criticizes Caitlyn Jenner's tour of the homeless encampments in Venice, CA:\n\n"We're talking about people, human beings sleeping on the sidewalk. Where are you gonna put them?"pic.twitter.com/Vy116Lasca— The Recount (@The Recount) 1628791400
The video captured a female protester who called out Jenner for her "white lily promises", and accused her of not taking into consideration the people in question.
"We're talking about people, human beings sleeping on the sidewalk. Where are you going to put them?"
While Jenner did not respond to the woman's questions, she ended her visit with a press conference, where she stood firm in her determination of ridding the homeless from California's streets, though she still didn't offer a clear solution as to how.
Caitlyn Jenner on California homelessness: "We have to reclaim our public space. We have to regulate our public space."pic.twitter.com/NC8Nd6ax3f— The Recount (@The Recount) 1628791635
"Probably the first contact that a homeless person is going to have is with law enforcement."
"We have to reclaim our public space. We have to regulate our public space, and those laws have to be followed."
If the responses to the three videos on Twitter are any indication, it does not look like Jenner left Venice Beach with an influx of support.
pic.twitter.com/vZWRPdkaXk— tha_Lifeof_Pablo\ud83d\udd25\u26fd\ufe0f\ud83d\udcdd (@tha_Lifeof_Pablo\ud83d\udd25\u26fd\ufe0f\ud83d\udcdd) 1628791960
If the public space is regulated in a way to keep members of the public out\u2014is it really public space?— Justin Trevell (@Justin Trevell) 1628791888
public space is only for people WITH homes I guess— FionaBski (@FionaBski) 1628801982
She's convinced that homeless people are the reason her rich friends are leaving LA. No other reason, according to her. \n\nThey should move HER to an open field and leave her there. Karma, @Caitlyn_Jenner.— Alien Cat Tweets (@Alien Cat Tweets) 1628792046
Nice, use an already marginalized population for a photo op to further your failing political ambitions. Try focusing on the core issues that leave these people marginalized. Sweeping them away only perpetuates the problem but, sure makes for good sound bites media posts!!— Scott Warner (@Scott Warner) 1628792110
"we can't tolerate seeing homeless on the way to our jet hangars"— Hudson River Croc (@Hudson River Croc) 1628792134
Hey, @Caitlyn_Jenner Sorry the homeless are so hard for you to have to deal with. How about have a plan to help THEM, instead of assuaging your discomfort?— inwoodguy (@inwoodguy) 1628793263
In a somewhat ironic twist, it seemed that the protester, who's name has not been disclosed, walked away with all the support Jenner was hoping to achieve that day.
God bless her! Speaking truth to power (even what little power Jenner has) is always admirable!— Forever 11 (@Forever 11) 1628791643
That protestor is my hero.— \ud83c\udff3\ufe0f\u200d\ud83c\udf08Carly Danielle Mayer\ud83c\udff3\ufe0f\u200d\ud83c\udf08 (@\ud83c\udff3\ufe0f\u200d\ud83c\udf08Carly Danielle Mayer\ud83c\udff3\ufe0f\u200d\ud83c\udf08) 1628792211
She got her good— First Last (@First Last) 1628800065
Amen! I celebrate this woman for speaking truth to power!!— ExBFF (@ExBFF) 1628818087
pic.twitter.com/Oao9A8EQgs— Bigbum001 (@Bigbum001) 1628791562
Considering she has been consistently polling in the single digits, perhaps Jenner might actually listen to her anonymous, and infinitely more popular critic, ahead of her subsequent tour stops.
